Parlow, Akers score, Scurry sensational in net, beating Brazil 2-0.

By Gary Davidson
SoccerTimes

STANFORD, Calif. (Sunday, July 4, 1999) --
Cindy Parlow scored on a header off goalkeeper Maravilha's bobble in the fifth minute
and Michelle Akers added a late penalty kick,
but it was goalkeeper Briana Scurry’s
exceptional play that paved for the United States to defeat Brazil before 73,123 in a
Women's World Cup semifinal at Stanford Stadium this afternoon.

The U.S. advanced to Saturday’s championship match at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, Calif. against China, which thumped Norway 5-0.

The U.S got the only goal it needed in the fifth minute after midfielder
Julie Foudy drove a ball from
the deep left corner. Maravilha jumped and got both hands on the ball, but it
popped loose and Parlow headed it home from three yards.

Scurry made six saves to earn her 52nd career shutout. "Brazil is an excellent
team. They have a lot of offensive power and I’m just glad that we were able to
hold the fort," Scurry said. "It was a little but dangerous at times, but I
think we held up well and I’m very proud of our defenders because they kept the
majority of shots off me. So I had to do my job today and I’m glad I could do it."

She dove into a crowd to punch one ball away and tipped a 35-yard shot by Nene
over the net in the first half. After intermission, she stopped two close-in
shots -- barely getting a hand on Nene's attempt in the 56th minute making a
sprawling two-handed stop to her right on Pretinha’s low blast in the 83rd.

"Having Briana back there is certainly a calming force," defender
Carla Overbeck said. "She is
extremely athletic, she’s extremely dependable. And just knowing that, we as
defenders are going to make mistakes, but knowing that Bri’s behind us makes all
the difference in the world. She’s the best keeper in the world."

Scurry’s heroic were important because the U.S. was hardly sharp offensively
for much off the match. The Americans were outshot 13-10 and Brazil led in
shots on goal 6-5.

"For sure, we knew we had to play a lot of defense," U.S. coach
Tony DiCicco said. "We really
worked on trying to eliminate space for Sissi and not create any fouls around the
penalty area. And defensively, we did a lot of very good things when (Brazil) was
good enough to get in on us. Briana Scurry was awesome and she was for sure the
number one star for us today."

Late in the game, with Brazil pushing forward to tie, Overbeck's goal kick was
headed downfield by Akers to Mia Hamm,
who broke into the penalty area. She was nudged down by Brazil’s captain Elane and
referee Katriina Elovirta signaled the penalty kick.

Akers buried it into the right corner to make it 2-0 in the 80th minute.

The Americans return to the World Cup final they won over China in 1991. In
1995, the U.S. was eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champion Norway.